By SAMANTHA BATES

Pendleton, OR -- Kevin Sumerlin and his two sons, 5-year-old Cody and 7-year-old Justin, weren't sure what they were going to do Sunday. Sumerlin said the boys had four quarters and they decided to check out downtown Pendleton to see if there were some Round-Up festivities they could put those quarters toward.

They soon found themselves at Roy Raley Park for the annual Round-Up Sunday Community Worship Celebration.

"God gave us the quarters and brought us here," Sumerlin said.

Sumerlin and his boys weren't the only ones drawn to the park Sunday morning. The crowd of people towing chairs and blankets numbered in the hundreds. It spilled over the small amphitheater depression surrounding the stage and spread out - mostly to the West because that's where the shade was - and filled more than half the grassy area of the large park.

"I am so excited to have every one of you here today," welcomed Rick Oliver, pastor of the Church of God. "Our experiences stretches from the mountain on the way to the airport, from Bethel Assembly, all the way to Tutuilla Presbyterian Church and all points in between. North, South, West, God's kingdom is here."

Twelve churches or organizations helped put together the event, among them the Salvation Army.

Diana Klopmeyer with the Salvation Army, said she could feel a sense of spirituality and community in the service as well as the Dress-Up Parade, which took place Saturday morning.

"Having this (the service) right behind it, I want to learn, I want to meet all the people in town," she said. "I am a new Christian and I want to learn as much as I can."

Marie Wister, also with the Salvation Army, said the organization drove vans around town to pick people up and bring them to the service.

"It was a beautiful service," she said. "It's good to see everyone coming together."

The service included lots of music and sermons from many spiritual leaders.

Pastor Arron Swenson gave a special presentation for kids, using a rope - and a little bit of prestidigitation - to show how God can help people repair their hurts and injuries.

Sumerlin said he enjoyed the service because it was kid-friendly for his two boys. He also liked it was outdoors.

Some spectators, such as Gary and Rachel Getman of Amboy, Wash., came for Round-Up and were delighted to find a special Sunday service for the event.

"I figured there was some sort of cowboy church going on," Rachel said. "It was good. It was exciting. I enjoy being at an all-church service for all age groups."

Rusty Kramer, of the Word of Life International Church was the featured speaker. He gave words of advice with it comes to hope and understanding the difference between God's hope and man's hope. He said God will have a perfect way of doing things that works 100 percent of the time, while a person's ways will not have that kind of surety or faith.

"What is your hope today?" He asked the crowd. "God is the only answer we can depend on."

Article courtesy of the The East Oregonian Newspaper. Original article published Monday, September 08, 2008.